No. 4 Arkansas Cruises Past Hawaii in NCAA Tournament Opener

Razorbacks dominate with dunks and layups in 97-78 victory

Mar. 20, 2026 at 4:25am

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Fourth-seeded Arkansas blew out 13th-seeded Hawaii 97-78 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament West Region on Thursday. Darius Acuff Jr. led the Razorbacks with 24 points and seven assists, while Meleek Thomas added 21 points. Arkansas shot 54.2% from the field and had 11 dunks and 17 layups in the one-sided victory. The Razorbacks led by as many as 23 points and will face 12th-seeded High Point in the second round on Saturday.

Why it matters

Arkansas, the SEC champion, continues its strong season and advances in the NCAA Tournament, while Hawaii's impressive Big West tournament title run comes to an end.

The details

The Razorbacks opened the game on an 11-0 run and never looked back, building a 26-7 lead early on. Arkansas had several highlight-reel dunks and layups, with Trevon Brazile, Malique Ewin, and Billy Richmond III all throwing down slams. Ewin also had a season-high six assists filling in for the injured Nick Pringle. Hawaii was led by Dre Bullock's 21 points and eight rebounds, but the Rainbow Warriors couldn't keep up with the Razorbacks' athleticism and firepower.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 20, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.
  • Arkansas led 54-36 at halftime.

The players

Darius Acuff Jr.

The SEC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, averaging over 20 points and 6 assists per game for Arkansas.

Meleek Thomas

A key contributor for Arkansas, scoring 21 points in the win.

Dre Bullock

The leading scorer for Hawaii with 21 points and 8 rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The Razorbacks will play 12th-seeded High Point in the second round on Saturday.

The takeaway

Arkansas' dominant performance showcases the team's athleticism and scoring prowess as they continue their quest for an NCAA Tournament title, while Hawaii's Cinderella run in the Big West tournament comes to an end.